What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Dakota County Mn?

Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License (outside city limits)

An on-sale intoxicating liquor license holder outside city limits that wants to sell on Sundays needs this additional license. The county's intoxicating liquor page states that with the permit an on-sale license holder "can sell intoxicating liquor on Sunday from 10 a.m. until midnight. An additional application is not required. Mark 'Sunday Sales' on the on-sale intoxicating liquor license application." Ordinance 101 §11 limits it to a restaurant, club, bowling center or hotel with seating for at least 30 persons that holds an on-sale intoxicating liquor license, and only if the voters of the town have authorized Sunday sales at an election held on the day of the annual election of township officers. The fee, as published on the county's intoxicating liquor page (last updated 07/17/2026), is $200 for the license year Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. The county published a recommended 2027 fee schedule (public notice dated Sept. 3, 2026; County Board public hearing Oct. 6, 2026; proposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2027); the figure here is the one the county's own page shows for the current period.

Consumption and Display Permit — County Board consent (outside city limits)

A business or club outside city limits without an on-sale liquor license that lets customers bring and drink their own alcohol, or serves set-ups or mixers for intoxicating liquor, needs a consumption and display permit. The county's intoxicating liquor page states that "A Consumption and Display Permit is required if alcoholic beverages are consumed — but not sold — on-site without a liquor license." The permit itself comes from the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety (Ordinance 101 §10 subd. 1), and under §10 subd. 3 "A permit issued under this section is not effective until approved by the County Board"; §10 subd. 4 has the business pay the County Board's fee to obtain that consent. As published on the county's intoxicating liquor page (last updated 07/17/2026), the fee is $297 plus a separate State of Minnesota fee, for one year from April to March. A restaurant that allows BYOB, or a fitness studio or other venue that allows guests to drink brought-in alcohol, is the typical case. The county published a recommended 2027 fee schedule (public notice dated Sept. 3, 2026; County Board public hearing Oct. 6, 2026; proposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2027); the figure here is the one the county's own page shows for the current period.

On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License (outside city limits)

The county's liquor page states: "Businesses within the city limits must apply for a liquor license to that city where it is located. Businesses outside the city limits must apply to Dakota County." It adds: "If approved, the State of Minnesota issues the license. Please allow 60 days to complete this process." The county page describes the on-sale license as one that "can be issued to hotels, bowling centers, clubs and restaurants"; Ordinance 101 §8 lets the County Board issue it within the unorganized or unincorporated area to a restaurant or club with the approval of the Commissioner of Public Safety. The fee is the county page's "2026 fee: $4,525" for the license year Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Under Ordinance 101 §12 the county will not issue a retail license within an organized town unless the applicant shows a certified town-board resolution consenting to it, and the Sheriff and County Attorney must give a written recommendation first. New applicants also pay an investigation fee under Ordinance 101 §13: $150 when the investigation is conducted within the state, and actual cost up to $10,000 when conducted outside the state. Minn. Stat. §340A.408, subd. 2(d) lets the town board of the town where the establishment is licensed impose an additional fee of up to 20 percent of the county license fee. The county published a recommended 2027 fee schedule (public notice dated Sept. 3, 2026; County Board public hearing Oct. 6, 2026; proposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2027); the figure here is the one the county's own page shows for the current period.

Combination On- and Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License (restaurants in towns without §368.01 powers)

A restaurant outside city limits that both serves liquor on site and sells it in original packages to take away. Ordinance 101 §9 subd. 1(c) lets the County Board issue a combination off-sale and on-sale license, with the approval of the Commissioner of Public Safety, "to restaurants within a town that may not exercise powers under Minn. Stat. § 368.01, Subd. 1 or Subd. 1a." The town board must adopt a resolution supporting the license and a public hearing must be held before it is issued (§9 subd. 2); the county page also states that "A public hearing will be held by the Board of Commissioners before this license is approved." The fee, as published on the county's intoxicating liquor page (last updated 07/17/2026), is $4,981 for the license year Jan. 1 to Dec. 31; the page lists it as its own fee for the combination license. A new applicant also pays the Ordinance 101 §13 investigation fee: $150 for an in-state investigation, or actual cost up to $10,000 if conducted outside the state. The State of Minnesota issues the license after county approval. The county published a recommended 2027 fee schedule (public notice dated Sept. 3, 2026; County Board public hearing Oct. 6, 2026; proposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2027); the figure here is the one the county's own page shows for the current period.

Shared with other businesses in Dakota County Mn

• Retail Tobacco License — Dakota County Public Services & Revenue, $944 for a two-year license; license period Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027 ("Partial period licenses are pro-rated."), two years; the current license period runs Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027. Also required for retail stores and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• 3.2% Malt Liquor License — On-Sale or Off-Sale (outside city limits) — Dakota County Public Services & Revenue, $290 a year for each license type (on-sale $290; off-sale $290), January to December, as published on the county's 3.2% malt liquor page, annual; one year from January to December. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Certified Food Protection Manager — Minnesota Department of Health, Food, Pools and Lodging Services, $45 certification or renewal, plus a $5 technology fee, 3 years. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food and Beverage Establishment License — Minnesota Department of Health, Food, Pools and Lodging Services, $300 base plus a category fee of $185 low risk, $430 medium or $670 high, plus a $50 statewide hospitality fee and a $5 technology fee — or a delegated county's own schedule, annual. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.